UNICEF NZ welcomes extra govt support for Syrian crisis

UNICEF New
Zealand has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s
announcement today that it will commit an additional $5
million to UNICEF operations in Lebanon and Jordan to help
children affected by the Syrian conflict.

UNICEF NZ
Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay said, “The scale of
this humanitarian crisis is unprecedented, with millions of
people affected – at least half of them are children. We
are pleased and grateful that the Government has recognised
the severity and the urgency of the situation and responded
accordingly.”

The funds will go towards UNICEF’s
education and health programmes for refugees in Lebanon and
Jordan – where nearly 1.4 million refugees have fled.
“The conditions facing children and their families are
grim at best, especially given that the region is now
experiencing the coldest winter in a decade. They are living
in tents and camps in sub-zero temperatures. They need food,
warm clothes, medicines, blankets – and they need
hope.”

“The funding announced by the Government will
be used to help get children back into school, to protect
them from exploitation and to provide psychological care.
Some of these children have seen their families and friends
killed and lost their schools and homes. They will need all
the support we can give them to return to any kind of
normalcy.”

Earlier this month, UNICEF, Save the
Children, UNHCR and World Vision launched the No Lost
Generation campaign, calling for a US$1billion
investment and for governments, aid agencies and members of
the public to become champions for the children of Syria.
The campaign aims to provide those affected by the conflict
with the chance to shape a more stable and secure
future.

“New Zealanders have been very generous in
donating to our appeal for Syria, but so much more is
needed. We need to act now to ensure we don’t lose an
entire generation and any chance of future peace for the
region,” Mr McKinlay
said.

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